Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Len Gratto says there's no way he is paying a $5,200 fine to Mission, B.C., for growing cucumbers in his basement.
Gratto -- who has lived in the home for 30 years -- says he's raring to join an imminent class-action lawsuit attacking the municipality's grow-op bylaw inspections. A number of citizens, led by Stacy Gowanlock, allege their homes were illegally searched for marijuana grow ops resulting in them being slapped with fees and repair orders costing upward of $10,000 -- all on questionable evidence.
Gratto, 67, says he's never grown pot, but "laughable" evidence against him consists of pictures of some "dirt" on the basement wall and "a furnace pipe going up into the chimney, where it should be.
"It's upsetting they can do this," Gratto said. "We were growing cucumbers in the basement because they wouldn't take outside."
Gowanlock said he was searched in 2009 and hit with thousands in fees and repair orders despite never growing pot in his home.
A lawyer could be filing his civil suit within days, he said.
"I'm going to be the one that steps forward," Gowanlock said. "It's the whole process. You're violating people's rights."
In a move that could potentially alter the landscape of drug enforcement in B.C., the B.C. Civil Liberties Association says it will join the battle against Mission, widening the focus into a region-wide challenge to "home grow-op bylaws."
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: vancouversun.com
Copyright: 2011 The Windsor Star
Contact: Contact Us - Vancouver Sun
Website: Class-action planned over grow-op searches
Gratto -- who has lived in the home for 30 years -- says he's raring to join an imminent class-action lawsuit attacking the municipality's grow-op bylaw inspections. A number of citizens, led by Stacy Gowanlock, allege their homes were illegally searched for marijuana grow ops resulting in them being slapped with fees and repair orders costing upward of $10,000 -- all on questionable evidence.
Gratto, 67, says he's never grown pot, but "laughable" evidence against him consists of pictures of some "dirt" on the basement wall and "a furnace pipe going up into the chimney, where it should be.
"It's upsetting they can do this," Gratto said. "We were growing cucumbers in the basement because they wouldn't take outside."
Gowanlock said he was searched in 2009 and hit with thousands in fees and repair orders despite never growing pot in his home.
A lawyer could be filing his civil suit within days, he said.
"I'm going to be the one that steps forward," Gowanlock said. "It's the whole process. You're violating people's rights."
In a move that could potentially alter the landscape of drug enforcement in B.C., the B.C. Civil Liberties Association says it will join the battle against Mission, widening the focus into a region-wide challenge to "home grow-op bylaws."
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: vancouversun.com
Copyright: 2011 The Windsor Star
Contact: Contact Us - Vancouver Sun
Website: Class-action planned over grow-op searches
